Typographical composing machine



Dec. 8, 1931. HILPMAN 1,835,491

TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Filed April 8, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR J. H. HILPMAN Dec. 8, 1931.

TYPOGRAPHI CAL COMPOS ING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 44. AT T a :1 l 9 Q Kiwi E I i 1%- I M N QR Dec. 8, 1931. J. H. HlLPMAN TYPOGRAPHICAL CO MPOSING MACHINE Filed Apiil s, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Ahdh/ 2 ATT KNEYJ' Dec. 8, 1931. J. H. HILPMAN 1,335,491

TYPOGRAPHICAL comrosme MAcHiNE Filed April 8, 1930 4 Sheets-Shet 4 I INVENTOR.

Patented'Dec. 8, 1931 uurrsowsrarss PATENT OFFICE JOHN H. HILPMAN, or Hem-i is, nnw- Yong, riser-anon TO arnaemtmmnnn LI-iro'rYPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW' YORK TYPOGRAPHICAL GOMPOSING'MAGH INE Application'filed April 3, 1930. serial No. 442,501.

This invention relates to typographical composing machines, such as llllotype machines of the general organization repre sented in Letters Patent of the United States to Q. Mergenthaler, No. d36,532, wherein circulating matrices are released from an 111-.

clined magazine in the orderin which theirv characters are to appear in print and then composed in line, the composed line transferred to the face of a slotted mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug or linotype against the matrices which produce the type characters thereon, and the matrices thereafter returned through distributing mechanism to the magazine from which they.

started.

More particularly, it relates to that class for the composition of head letter or display matter.

Thematrix storage magazinesemployed in machines of this class are of standard size and shape, but differ in the number and arrangement of their matrix channels, the regular magazines being provided with ninety-one channels spaced apart in the usual way to, accommodate the matrix columns of the ordinary text fonts, while the display magazines are provided with but seventy-three or fiftyfive channels spaced apart in a different way to accommodate the matrix columns of the larger head letter and display fonts. The extra channels in the magazines are employed for double e attachments.

As the matrices are released from the magazine in use, they pass into theupper or re-,

ceiving end of a vertically disposed assembler entrance or raceway, wherein they are guided facew1se by a series of guide plates The spacing ofthe entrance guide plates is such thatthirty are ordinarily required to properly handle the matrices of complete fonts stored in magazines of standard width at their discharge ends, the distance between adjacent guide plates being considerably less than the full width of the. individual matrices so as to. prevent them from toppling over sidewise in their passage through the assembler entrance. Furthermore, the upper ends of these guide plates must be located in definite positions relative to the magazine grooves or matrix channels so that they will not interfere withthe matrices as they pass from the magazine into the assembler en;

trance.

The foregoing condition has given rise to serious difficulties inmachines equipped or adapted to be equipped with magazines con? taining the regular ninety character fonts as, well as the special seventy-two. or fiftyfive character font-s, since a proper setting of the, assembler entrance guide plates for the matrix columns of a regular or-ninety-one channeled magazine is not always suitable for. the matrix columns of a display or seventy-three channeled, magazine, and vice versa. 7 7

Two priorwschemeshave been proposed to solve this problem: one as set forth in the Kennedy Patent, No. 1,570,258, wherein the upper sections of the guide plates are pivotally mounted so that they may be adjustedat will to different positions to cooperate with the matrices of the regular and display magazines; and the other J as disclosed in the Rogers Patent, No 1,661,504, wherein the assembler entrance is provided with two. dis tinct throat sections having differently lo.- cated guide plates and rotatably mounted for interchange, whereby either section may be brought into operative position, as desired.

Both suggested arrangements, while thoroughly practical and satisfactory, are expensive to manufacture, require many changes in the general structure of the machine, and lead into Other complications.

The present invention is intended to obviate all such complications along with the manual attention required in the adjustments of the parts, and contemplates an assembler entrance of the ordinary type, i. e. one whose matrix guide plates are fixed, as usual, but one wliiclnnevertheless, will be capable of handling the matrices of both the regular and display fonts with equal facility.

To this end, it is proposed to eliminate approximately one-half of the standard number of matrix guide plates and to rearrange those retained in such manner that their upper end-s may be permanently positioned in proper guiding relation to a corresponding number of matrix columns of the regular and display magazines. As thus rearranged, the *space between ZLClJZLCQIlt guide plates in a number of instances will be much greater than the width of the matrices and many of the latter will, therefore, be denied side support as they escape from the magazine.

However, in carrying out the invention, it is also proposed to give the upper portion or bridge member of the entrance back plate (over which the matrices pass on their edges as the escape from the magazine) a special CL11'V6( shape or form, such that the matrices may maintain their equilibrium temporarily or until they may obtain positive side support by the guide plates at a lower point in the assembler entrance. In other words, the contour of the bridge member is designed to conform as nearly as possible to the path the matrices would follow throu h space if discharged from a magazine isposed at the usual inclination, so as in this way to subect the matrices to the minimum disturbance as they pass over the bridge member.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, the bridge member is given g a gradual and continuously curved supportingsurface starting at the top in the inclined plane of the magazine and sloping forwardly and downwardly so as to terminate in the vertical plane of the assembler entrance back platetand theguide plates, which are adapted, as usual, to guide the matrices by their side faces, each comprises (except the one at the extreme right) a pair of branch plate portions, which are spaced apart throughout the greater portion of their length, but which are oined together at their upper ends and beveled off at the top into a knife edge. Guide plates of this peculiar branch form are employed so as to reduce the Width of the intermediate channels at a given distance below the upper edge of the bridge member and thereby furnish matrices passing over said member with the side support they require at the moment they lose or begin to lose their equilibrium.

\Vhile the guide plates, in the broader aspects of the invention, might be extended to the top of the curved bridge member, as usual, their upper edges, for reasons later to appear, stop short of this point, and a series of low tapered rib members are provided, which cooperate solely with the projecting ears of the matrices. These rib members are intended to deflect the matrices alongside the guide plates as they escape from the magazineand to start them in the proper direction to follow the slope of the branch plate portions at the points of their divergence.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely in preferred form and by way of example, and as applied to a machine of the particular class mentioned, but obviously many changes and variations may be made therein and in its mode of adaptation which will still be comprised within its spirit. It should, therefore, be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment except insofar as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a portion of a linotype machine embodying the present improvements Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the upper portion of the improved assembler entrance, with the cover plate removed, showing the relation existing between the matrix guides and a regular ninety-one channeled magazine;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the relation existing between the guides and a display or seventy-three channeled magazine;

Fig. 4. is a vertical section taken through the improved assembler entrance and the lower end of a magazine;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the structural details of the assembler entrance and a matrix guide; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail plan views showing the manner of guiding baclrmilled matrices as they escape "from the magazine.

For purposes of description, it may be assumed that the machine illustrated in Fig. l

is equipped with the two inclined magazines contain one of the ordinary fonts used for the composition of straight matter; and the magazine Y is provided with seventy-three matrix channels, as constituted by the grooves yandthe intermediate ribs y to adapt it to contain one of the larger fonts used in the composition of head letter or display matter. The spacing of the matrix channels is quite different asbe'tWeen the two magazines, but, in carrying outthe present invention, advantage is taken of the'fact that certain channels in both magazines are similarly located or occupy substantially the same vertical planes (compare Figs. 2 and 3).

When either magazine is located in operative position, it is adapted to register ac curately (as shown in Fig.4) with the assernbler entrance B, which latter comprises a cover plate B hinged at the top for access to the entrance, a back plate B having an upper portion or bridge member B and a series of intermediate guide plates B for directing the matrices through the entrance. Each of the magazines is provided with matrix releasing escapement C, which (when the magazine is in use) are actuated from the keyboard C in the usual way through a. series of pivoted levers C and the actuating reeds C (see Fig. 1). As the matrices are released from the magazine, they pass over the bridge member 13 on their edges and thence downwardly between the guide plates B into engagement with a constantly driven inclined belt D leading to an assembling elevator E. Here the matrices are composed in line under the influence of a star wheel E and when composition is complete, the line is raised to the transfer position and delivered automatically to the casting mechanism. 7

As ordinarily constructed, the assembler entrance of of the commercial linotype machines is provided with thirty effective guide plates, which is the number usually required to handle properly a complete font of matrices as arranged in the channels of a magaof standard width, the upper ends of the guide plates being unequally spaced apart and permanently located in definite positions of alignment with certain of the magazine ribsa In all cases, the spacing between adjacent guide plates is made less than the width of the matrices, so that they will be prevented by the guide. plates from top: pling over onto their side faces from the'time they leave the magazine until they reach the assembler belt D.

The present invention presents a distinct departure from this old and long established practice. As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the improved assembler entrance is provided with only fourteen effective matrix guide plates 13*, whose upper ends, with the exception of the ones at the extreme right and left,

are definitely located in positions to. accord with those grooves a, y, of the magazines A, Y, which occupy approximately the same vertical planes. It will be noted that the guide plates are not only unequally spaced apart but that many of the intervening chan'- nels B atthe mouth of the entrance are of.

which, because of such reduction in width of the channels, are adapted to give side support to. the descending matrices as they approach the vertical main section of the entrance B. These branch portions B (F iggd) are provided with retaining ears b projecting from theirrear edges and which arepermanently fastened incorresponding cuts 6, formed at the lower edge of the bridge member B Below these fastening points, the branch portions, are left free so as to function as resilient leaf springs in directing the matrices onto the inclined belt D.

YVhile, as before stated, the corresponding magazine grooves a and 3/ with which the matrix guides cooperate are located approximately in the'same vertical planes, they vary somewhat inwidth and to such extent that if the matrix guide plates B were extended directly up'to the magazine, as ordinarily, some of the plates would be disposed in the path of the bodies of the matrices in one magazine even though they might stand clear of the bodies of the matrices in the other 7 magazine. A similar and much more serious condition is presented in the use of matrices with offset ears (so-called backmilled matrices), which are included in certain of the regular or text fonts. For instance, the bodies of these back-milled matrices (as clearly depicted in Figs. 6 and 7) overlap the magazine grooves a at both sides thereof and would stand squarely opposed to the guide plates, notwithstanding the fact that the latter might be positioned accurately with reference to the grooves of both magazines.

For these reasons, primarily, the guide plates 13*, instead of being carried up to the magazine or to the upper edge of the bridge member, as in the commercial machines, are located with their upper ends a short distance'b'elow the discharge end of the magazine, as shown. This distance is made up by the use ofintermediate rib members B which are adapted to cooperate solely with the projecting ears of the matrices, being sufiiciently low to stand out of the path of the matrix bodies.

These rib members B which are of arrowhead form, fit over or straddle the upper knife-like edges of the guide plates 13 (Fig. 4). and are themselves secured to the bridge member B by a horizontal rod 6 common to all of the ribs. The rod b is passed through apertures formed in web portions or flanges b which depend from the rib members B and are mounted in transverse cuts 22* in the upper end of the bridge member B The pointed ends of the rib members (see Figs. 2 and 3) are'flush with the upper edge of the bridge member B andare located permanently in the positions that might otherwise be occupied by the. guide plates B; namely, in definite relation to the selected correspondingly located grooves a and g of the magazines A and Y. Also, the distance between the upper edge of the guide plates and the delivery end of the magazine is less than the length of a matrix, as may be seen by referring to Figs. 6 and 7, so that the lower edges of matrices which happen to be guided by the rib members B will have passed the upper edges of the guide plates 13 before their upper projecting ears leave the magazine grooves. These particular mat-- rices, in escaping from the magazine, are thus positively restrained against toppling over until they gain adequate side support by the guide plates.

lVith the above arrangement, backmilled matrices that happen to be stored in a magazine groove a immediately to the left of one of the guiding ribs B will be deflected slightly to the left by that rib so as to clear the u aper edge of the guideplate B while the bodies of the matrices occupying the magso that the bodies of these matrices may pass clear of the guide plates as they escape from the magazine A. This latter feature is par-' ticnlarly advantageous in handling the relatively thin matrices which occupy closely spaced adjacent channels. In such instance, the matrices, as a result of their engagement with the ribi'nembers, will be canted toward and against theassociated guide plates 13 when their up; ir projecting ears pass out of the. magazine and thus immediately obtain the side support. they require. Thereafter these matrices follow the guide plates and the branch portions B thereof into the reduced sections of the entrance channels and thence pass to the delivery belt D.

ln order to guard against the falling over sidewise of matrices which do not come under the guidance of the ribmembers B and the guide plates B" in'the abnormally wide channels B the bridge member 13 of the improved assembler entrance B (see Fig. 4), is made to present a gradually curved supporting surface B for the gravitating matlCGS, such that the individual matrices will 2 allowed to retain their equilibrium as they are discharged from the inclined magazine A or Y, (as the case may be), until they travel sui'iiciently far into the entrance to obtain the positive side support provided by the branch portions B of the guide plates B Consequently, matrices occupying the magazine grooves located more centrally of the entrance channels 13, and which do not engage the ribs B will also pass in proper position over the bridge member B, although denied side support. Certain of those matrices, according to the course they are caused to pursue (as determined by the location and angularity of their magazine grooves) engage the sloping upper ends of the branch plate portions 15 and are guided thereby into the main narrow sections of the channels 3", while others, (those aligned with said channel sections) pass directly into the same without guidance.

The curvature of the surface B is described from a center so located that the radius will join the inclined plane of the lower plate of the magazine and the vertical plane of the back plate of the assembler entrance, thus avoiding any sudden or abrupt change in direction of the gravitating matrices such as might render them unstable. By way of contrast, it may be stated that the ordinary assembler entrance has a bridge member whose supporting surface forms a continuation of the lower plate of the magazine and then slopes downwardly at an abrupt angle to join with the vertical surface of the back plate of the entrance. A supporting surface of that sort, in the present construction, would seriously affect the. equilibrium of the matrices and might actually prevent the wide spacing of the matrix guide plates ierein disclosed. The gradual curvature of the bridge members supporting surface above described is therefore regarded of importance and particularly when used in connection with matrix guides which are so distantly spaced apart at the upper or receiving end of the assembler entrance that the width of the individual channels is greater than the width of the individual matrices. In fact, all of the various features described cooperate in a peculiar way in bringing about the desired results.

It will now be seen that the improved assembler entrance is not only capable of cooperating with the regular or ninety-one channeled magazine, but also with the special display or seventy-three channeled magazine, notwithstanding the totally different spacing of the matrix channels'in the two magazines and the widevariation in the sizes of the matrices therein contained, and notwithstanding the difference in form of the mat rices' being handled. The entrance may truly be regarded as universal, since it is designed to take care of all fonts now in usein the commercial machines. Since the entrance is of standard dimensions, no structural changes are required in the standard machines, and inasmuch as the matrix guides are fixed. no adjustments or manual attention are required in the use of the entrance. Indeed, save for the form of the matrix guides and of the bridge'member, the entrance is practically identical with the regular magazine entrance and may be used in precisely-the same'way.

While the improved entrance has been designedespecially to cooperate with the different magazines referred to, it could be adapted for use with one kind of magazine alone 'andstill possess advantages over the regular assembler entrance. The reduced number of matrix guides and their location to accommodate back-milled. matrices afford a good example of that. Moreover, in some cases, the advantages of the improved entrancewould be present without the use of the special ear-engaging ribs at the upper ends of the matrix guide plates, saidribs being especially intended for back-milled matrices and matrices as arranged in both the regular and display magazines; for certain fonts, the guide plates could be extended directly up to the magazine without interfering with the passage of the matrices into the assembler. tions will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.-

Having thus described my invention, I claim is: V

1. In or for a typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped with interchangeable channeled magazines of substantially the same width at their discharge ends, one containing a set of matrices occupying certain channels according to character. and another containing a set of matrices occupying differently located channels according to character. a single assembler entrance adapted to receive matrices as they are discharged from either magazinein use and provided with a series of fixed matrix guides. said guides; in number and arrangement being such as to cooperate with the matrices of either of said magazines. 2. A combination as specified in claim wherein the magazines are of standard width at their discharge ends, andcharacterized by the factthat the assemblerentrance 13116367" in recited is provided with but fourteen matrix guides, orsubstantially so and that saidguides have their upper ends positioned to cooperate with the matrices of either of said magazines. I l v 3. A combination as specified in claim 1,

what

These and other modificaranged between the two plates and widely spaced apart at their upper ends, said bridge member presenting a downwardly curved matrix supporting surface whereby matrices in passing over the same on their edges are .enabled to maintain their equilibrium temporarily without'side support.

5. In a typographical composing machine, the combination with an inclined matrix magazine, of an upright assembler entrance to receive the 'matrices therefrom and comprising a cover plate, a back plate having an upper section or bridge'member arranged in operative relation to the magazine and presenting a curved matrix supporting surface, and a series of matrix guides or partitions arranged between the two plates and widely spaced apart at their upper ends, the curveture of said bridge members matrix supporting surface being such that matrices passing over the same on their edges are enabled to maintain their equilibrium temporarily without side support.

6. In or for a typographical composing machine equipped with matrices,a channeled assembler entrance having channels whose width at their upper or matrix receiving ends is greater than the full width of the individual matrices. r

7. In or for a typographical composing machine equipped with matrices, an assembler entrance comprising a cover plate, a back plate, and a series ofintermediate matrix guides or partitions, said guides being unequally spaced apart to afford a corresponding series of intervening channels, .and certain of saidchannels at their upper ends being of a' width greater than the full width of the individual matrices.

8. In or fora typographical composing machine equipped With matrices, a channeled assembler entrance having channels whose width at their upper or receiving ends is greater than that of the individual matrices, but whose width at a given distance below their upper ends is less than that of the individual matrices.

9. In or for ,a typographical composing machine .adapted to be equipped with interchangeable magazines, one containing a set of matrices occupying certain channels according to character, and another containing a set of matrices occupying diflerently located channels according to character, an assembler entrance comprising a cover plate, a back plate having a gradually andcontinuously curved upper section or bridge member arranged in operative 'relation'to the magazine in use, and a series of matrix guides or partitions arranged between the two plates and widely spaced apart at their upper ends tocooperate with the matrices of either magazine,

10. In or for a typographical composing machineequipped with matrices, an assembler. entrance comprising a cover plate, a back plate, and a series of vertically disposed intermediate guide plates, certain of said guide plates at their upper ends being spaced apart at a distance to provide matrix channels of greater thanthe full width of the matrices, and at a given distance below the up per ends thereof presenting branch portions to reduce the matrix channels to less than the full width of the matrices.

v11. In or for a typographical composing machine equipp' with matrices, an assembler entrance comprising a cover plate, a back plate, a series of intermediate upright guide plates for guiding the matrices by their side faces, and a corresponding series of low rib members associated with the upper ends of the guide plates for guiding the matrices solely by their projecting ears, said guide plates being spaced apart to. afiord intervening channels of a width at the mouth of the entrance greater than the full width of the individual matrices. 7 I 12. In or for, a ty ographical composing machine eouippedwith matrices, an assembler entrance comprising a cover plate,v a back plate, a series of intermediate upright guide plates for guiding the matrices by their side faces, and a corresponding series of low rib members associated with the upper ends of the guide plates for guiding the matrices solely by their projecting ears, said guide plates being spaced apart to afford intervening channels of a width at the mouth of the entrance greater than the full width of the individual matrices, and the said rib members being formed so .as to tilt the matrices toward the associated guide plates to insure their engagement therewith, L

13. A combination as specified in'claim 11, characterized by the fact that the rib members therein recited are tapered upwardly from the upper edges ofthe guide plates so as to deflect and tilt the matrices passing on both sides of the rib members toward the associated guide plates to insure their engagement therewith. j j

14:. In or for a typographical composing machine, the combination with an inclined magazine,of an assembler entrance comprising a cover'plate, a back plate, a series of rs3a491 intermediate upright guide plates for guiding the matrices by their side faces and spaced apart to aii'ord intervening channels of a width at the mouth of the entrance greater thanthe full width of the matrices, and a corresponding series of low rib members sociated with the upper ends of the guide plates for guiding the matrices solely by their-,projecting ears,said guide plates having their upper edges spaced from the dis charge end of the magazine a distance less than the length'of the matrices.

15. In or for a typographical composing machine, the combination with an inclined magazine, of anassembler entrance comprising a cover plate, a back plate, a series of intermediate upright guide plates for guiding the matrices by their side faces and spaced apart to afford intervening channels of a width at the mouth of the entrance greater than the full widthof the matrices, and a corresponding series of low rib members associated with the upper ends ofthe guide plates for guiding the matrices solely by their projecting ears, said guide plates having their upper edges spaced from the discharge end of the magazine a distance less than the length of the matrices, and the said rib members being formed so as to tilt the matrices into engagement with the associated guide plates as they escapetrom the magazine, for the purpose described.

16. In or for a typographical composing machine adapted to be equipped with interchangeable channeled magazines of substantially the same width at their discharge ends, one containing a set of matrices occupying certain channels according to character, and another containing a set of matrices occupying differently located channels according to character, an assembler entrance comprising a cover plate, a back plate, a series of intermediate upright guide plates for guiding the matrices by their side faces, and a correspending series of low tapered rib members associated with the upper ends of the guide plates for guiding the matricessolely by their projecting ears, said rib members being permanently located and arranged so as to co operate with the matrices of either of said magazines.

17 A combination as specified in claim 16, characterized by the fact that the assembler entrance therein recited is provided with substantially one-half of the standard number of matrix guide plates and that the associated rib members are positioned so as to cooperate with the matrices of either of said magazines.

18. A combination as specified in claim 16, and wherein the assembler entrance includes aback plate having a gradually and continuously curved upper section or bridge member over which the matrices pass on their edges in entering the entrance.

19. A comb1nat1on as specified in claim 16,

characterized by the fact that the low rib members are made of arrow-head form with their pointed ends reaching the magazines.

20. A combination as specified in claim 16, wherein the guide plates are formed With branches which reduce the widths of the entrance channels at points below the upper ends of the guide plates.

In testimony whereof, this specification has been duly signed by:

JOHN H. HILPMAN. 

